Obit: Shields, Elda L. (1909 - 2004)
Contact:  Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
 

Surnames: Shields, Kliest, Kriese, Mattson, Tiedemann

----Sources: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark County, WI.) September 29, 2004

Shields, Elda L. (July 12, 1909 - September 18, 2004)

The Mass of Christian Burial, celebrating the life of Elda Mattson Shields, age 95, will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 21, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Holdingford. Burial will be in Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Elda died Saturday, September 18, 2004, at the Mother of Mercy Nursing Home in Albany. There will be a visitation from 4 - 9:00 p.m. Monday evening and again after 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Miller-Carlin-Brenny Funeral Home in Holdingford. Holdingford Senior Citizens will pray at 4:00 p.m., St. Mary’s parish prayers will be at 7:00 p.m. Monday followed by the St. Mary’s Christian Mother’s at 7:30 and the American Legion Auxiliary at 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home in Holdingford.

Elda was born July 12, 1909 in Wautoma, WI to Robert and Emma (Kliest) Kriese. She was raised in Thorp, WI and graduated from High School in 1927. She worked at her mothers boarding home and then in the Thorp IGA for 5 years. On October 23, 1932, Elda married the Thorp newspaper editor, Walter Mattson, a native of Cokato, MN. He was killed in military action on July 19, 1944 in Europe. Elda continued to publish the Holdingford Herald and keep (kept) the printing business active. She married Paul Shields on February 21, 1946 in Minneapolis. He joined her in the newspaper and printing business until his stroke in 1972. The paper as sold on December 22, 1972 to Don and Carol Larson, publishers of the Stearns Morrison Enterprise. Edna still maintained her office and job printing in the original building where she began her career.

Elda lived in Holdingford for over 50 years and she retired from her job in 2002, at the age of 93. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and she was a 25 year member of the Minnesota Press Women and Half Century member of the Minnesota Newspaper Association of Minneapolis. Elda was a founding member of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Holdingford when it was reorganized in 1941, being one of the eight people present in the congregation for the opening service. She held office in the church’s Ladies Aid Society and chaired fund-raising events for its needs. In October of 1957, Elda joined St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Holdingford, where for 19 years she sang in the choir. During the war years Elda sold bonds thru the Security State Bank. Elda was a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Frank Feia Post #211, which she joined in 1944. She was the cribbage meister at the Legion for 10 years. From 1940 thru 1954, Elda was the main operator for the NW Telephone Company, which had an office locally in her building. Elda was one of the original officers of the Holdingford Senior Citizens Club, serving as vice president in 1975. She was also a member of the Holdingford Commercial Club and held a 25 year membership in the Albany Golf Club. Elda Shields had many interests that supported the community of Holdingford. She stayed active from her place on main street meeting people and doing the work that she loved best, that of the newspaper business.

Elda leaves behind many friends, nieces and nephews who will miss her greatly. She is preceded in death by both of her husbands and her sisters, Margaret Tiedemann and Undine Kriese.